We spent a week here doing as many areas as possible, saw so much wildlife. It was the experience of a life time.

  Simply Amazing - I cant say alot about this site. all you need to know is that it is amazing.. you will really lean about wildlife and culture in Kenya which is basicaly... read more what i was looking without having spend much

  Great game viewing - Note: This was my first safari tour, so I cannot compare with other areas.

I loved it. Although I didnt see Rhino and leopards of the big 5, I... read more saw plenty of other animals. I especially enjoyed seeing a lot of lions, elephants, and wildebeests. Almost saw cheetahs hunting as well. Would recommend!! Also, it is much cheaper than serengeti from tanzanian side.

  Amazinh experience - Masai Mara in August, when all the herds of wildebeests and other herbivores came from Serengeti is something incredible.
In one evening and one day, we saw plenty of animals,... read more many species of antelopes, zebras, elephants, lions, hyenas eating carcasses, cheetas, giraffes, hippos, crocodiles, many species of birds, warthogs,.....
An unforgettable experience, don't miss it!

  Paradise on Earth Masai Mara - Masai Mara is Paradise on Earth. A must visit atleast once a lifetime. The best time to visit is July to Sept. This is the peak season. A bit expensive... read more as many visit from Europe.
Early October is also a good time. The rates are half. Contact Sun Hotels Safari for good deals.
Flight from Wilson airport Nairobi to Mara and back, 4 safari, 2 nights and 3 days is about $750. During peak it may cost 35% more.

  What a place! - The full scale and raw natural beauty of the Masai Mara Game Reserve can not be truly appreciated until you’re here. It’s 7am and I’m standing in our bus, roof... read more up, looking across the plains into the distance. Wow!!

They talk about the “Big 5” - being Buffalo Rhino Elephant Leopard and Lion - but really there are about 15 animals that you will see on your trip here - our driver was an excellent spotter and we saw hyena hippo ostrich cheetah warthog crocodile and even a “zebra crossing” the track right in front of us.

A privilege being here. But we must all learn more about the world we share with these animals. Did you know the Masai Mara rhino population has fallen from 35,000 to just 26?

We really are a very foolish “intelligent ape”!

  Named in honour of the Masai people (the ancestral inhabitants of the area).

We took off from Nairobi’s tiny Wilson Airport, in an 18 seater ATR, for our 40... read more minute flight to Keekorok air base at the Masai Mara. It is only a mud airstrip with a shed where formalities are completed. The colorfully dressed tall Masai women and men had set up a tribal market on the side of the airstrip, selling an assortment of souvenirs and trinkets. Safari vehicles from the resort, Mara Leisure Camp, were waiting for us. Perfumed towels and a cool drink to refresh ourselves with.The drivers also double up as safari guides. Roofs of our 4 *4 Land Rovers were raised and with all of us standing expectantly, with our cameras ready to shoot, we set off for the resort. Absolutely delighted as the drive turned out to be a game drive. Our excitement was palpable. Innumerable number of zebras. Our first wildlife sighting! Were the stripes black on white, or white on black? A debatable point indeed! The topi, with their ‘blue jeans’, and ‘brown socks’. The dark grey wildebeest. The delicate Thompson gazelle, constantly swishing their small tails. The waterbuck. All stop to gaze at us as we drive by. At times giving us the perfect pose so we can capture the best shot.

All the ‘Big Five’, African Lion, African Elephant, Leopard, Cape Buffalo and the Rhinoceros, can be spotted here. The rhino eluded us, but, we managed to see the 2 horned one at the Solio Farm at Aberdare. So gleefully we ticked The Big Five off our list. Something not everyone can boast about.

We were out on 2 drives every day. An early start after breakfast, at 7.30, as the gates to the park open at that time and the second one post lunch, into the dusky evening, when it got too dark to spot any wildlife. Driving across the endless rolling plains of the Mara, dotted by the iconic umbrella shaped acacia trees. Giraffes at a far distance, nibbling away at the thorny tree tops, with their never ending long necks. I was amazed to learn that giraffes have no vocal cords! Wow!

We were extremely fortunate to see a pride of lions and lionesses, on not one, but three occasions! In one sighting, a kill had taken place, which we narrowly missed seeing. The lioness was seen dragging a kill across the road to where the others waited patiently, and oblivious to the hundreds of eyes peering at them, ’shooting’ them. All in complete silence. Nobody wanted to make a noise, lest they go away. In fact, we were given the ‘royal’ ignore. Here I would like to add that all the sightings of the lions were at a close distance. Close enough for them to make a meal out of us!

A leopard and a cheetah. Unperturbed by humans around. Going about their business. To kill, to drink, or to rest under the shade of the bush. Infact we got a superb shot of a leopard as we surrounded him with our vehicles. He sat patiently for quite a while, giving us the opportunity to click away furiously.When he knew we were done, sauntered away nonchalantly.

It was not sweltering hot in the month of October. There was some rain on the 2 days that we were at the Mara. Hence that many more sightings. To our heart’s content.

Herds of Cape buffaloes. Huge and heavy creatures. A shy spotted hyena, hiding behind some bushes. A herd of elephants, trumpeting, as they ambled along with their herd, comprising of their young ones, running between the legs of their elder ones. Gently smacked into place by the mothers’ trunks if the calves became too frisky or strayed away.

The plumed ostrich family. The black and white Secretary Birds. A lone red beaked hornbill. The red giving away his hiding place. The huge vultures on the trees. The Eland, which are large African horned antelopes. We couldn’t seem to get enough of it. We were hungry for more. Whispered excitement and a constant clicking of cameras.

At the Masai Mara, rules cannot be flouted.No one is not allowed to get down from their vehicles.The safari drivers have to drive along designated tracks of the Savannah.
They are not allowed to get onto the grassy areas. Are constantly on their walkie talkies with one another in order to pass on any information of sightings. And then it is a mad rush to get there and be as up close as possible.

The Mara is a large game reserve in Kenya, contiguous with the Serengeti Park in Tanzania. The Great Migration takes place between the two plains, to and fro every year from July to October. So much to offer in terms of variety and volume.

The Masai tribe live on the periphery of the Reserve, in allocated places, with great respect for and in harmony with their land. They are considered to be one of the tallest people in the world. It is possible to go to their village to experience their culture, traditions and lifestyle, for a fee.

Do not be in a hurry to leave. A minimum of 3 days should satisfy your craving to see as many of the wild animals that The Mara has to offer.

Do remember to carry a protective hat, sunglasses, a mask to protect you from the dust and plenty of sunscreen.

TAKE ONLY MEMORIES.

LEAVE ONLY FOOTPRINTS.

  Beyond fabulous - We saw ebverything excpet for the reclusive leopard. The first day we saw 5 male cheetahs deciding on who was for dinner. Our 8 year veteran guide said he had... read more only seen that twice. They were perfectly calm and moved as a military unit. It was so cool. colors were also amazing- day glow with wildlife moving peacefully through it.